That is a strange thing I noticed after being born-n-raised in the NE. Up in the NE, people just don't understand the term "passing lane". Basically, everyone driver seems to say in their mind, "yeah, you can go around me, biatch!."
Now I live in the South. After living here a few years, I noticed, in SC at least, people consistently move over for a vehicle going faster then them in the left lane.
It was a strange thing to me at first, since I was from the NE. However I quickly adapted and now get out of the "fast" lane even if I am going 75 when the speed limit is 60 and someone is behind me doing 85-90.
I originally thought, cool, some drivers with a conscience? Nope. Here in SC what I see is driver after driver that will change lanes to let you pass (cool eh?), but drivers that also speed up if you even freaking turn your head to look at your passenger mirror. Putting on your right turn signal here in SC means that EVERY driver in the lane you want to merge into _must_ accelerate, regardless of circumstances.
It has been a very freaky thing. I have lived in several states up and down the East coast. I noticed in the Virginia area, EVERY freaking driver seems to LOVE their break pedal. Get even too close to a Virginia driver and, bam, he/she slams the breaks as if they are saying, "get off my @ss biatch".
When I lived in Florida for 8 years, well that place was just a mess because you never know what the driver in-front, next-to or even near you will do. They can be from any state and good luck guessing how they will drive!
Since you live in Ohio, at least you know what to expect. Just driving in Orlando, FL, what a mess. I remember thinking how I missed the crazy drivers from the Philly area of PA. At least I knew what the average driver would do and could be a defensive driver with that knowledge.
After living in NJ, PA, NC, SC and FL (tourist areas of Orlando), I can say that FL was just horrible. After FL, I would rate SC drivers as second worse. Simply for the fact that changing lanes becomes a game of chess. Yeah, most SC drivers will get out of the way in the "fast lane" and let you pass. However, if you are not a driver that wants to go 20-30 MPH over the speed limit, well you are stuck with the MIDDLE LANE. That MIDDLE LANE sucks. After all you will need to get to the right lane at some point to get to your exit. That merging into the right lane has become my daily commutes worst nightmare.
If there isn't much traffic, no biggie. However, even a little traffic and I have to start to defensively think about how I want to change lanes. I never move my head now, I just kinda pretend I am still looking forward while my eyes try to go as far right as they can. If I see an opening, bam, I merge like I am flying some T-Fighter or something. I get in the lane and I know the person behind me is pissed because I "got in from of them". Most SC drivers have the mentality of "get behind me biatch". Which doesn't work since every freaking driver in the lane you want to merge into is thinking the same thing and flooring the gas pedal and tailing really close to the person in front of them so you cannot get over. Oh, and I am not the typed of driver that waits until the last minute or so to merge into the lane I need to be in. I now merge over 5 - 10 miles before the exit I need just so I won't miss it. Sigh.
